Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to their first-ever Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup title on Saturday, delivering a masterclass performance in a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
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The Argentina superstar assisted two goals and set up another, igniting wild celebrations among the home fans. Messi was named MLS Cup Most Valuable Player for his decisive influence on the match.
Miami initially took the lead through an early Edier Ocampo own goal, but Vancouver responded in the second half when Ali Ahmed equalized in the 60th minute. Messi then orchestrated the decisive moments, assisting fellow Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul to restore Miami’s advantage and later setting up Tadeo Allende in injury time to seal the historic win.
The triumph also validated the vision of co-owner David Beckham, who had long aimed to bring glory to Miami’s expansion club since its 2020 debut. “We always promised our fans success and to bring the best players. Today, we’ve achieved that,” Beckham said.
Vancouver, featuring German legend Thomas Müller, had dominated after the equalizer, even hitting both posts in quick succession, but costly errors allowed Miami to seize control. Whitecaps coach Jesper Sørensen acknowledged that a single lapse—allowing Messi to regain possession and feed De Paul—decided the match.
The victory marks a milestone for Inter Miami and a bittersweet farewell for Messi’s former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who retired following the win. “This was very special for them and the whole team,” Messi said of their send-off.
Saturday’s MLS Cup triumph cements Messi’s impact on American soccer and highlights Inter Miami’s meteoric rise in the league with the addition of one of football’s greatest stars.
